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Agriculture and estates

The ‘very competent’ team at Hewitsons LLP is led by Gareth Williams, who ‘tailors advice to the client’s need’. The firm advises on all aspects of the management of rural estates, including agricultural and minerals issues, and rights of way and manorial rights. The probate department assists with farm restructurings and inheritance tax advice.

The 28-fee-earner team at Roythornes LLP has expertise in agriculture and estates as well as the food industry. Jarred Wright has ‘expert knowledge’; Simeon Disley is ‘capable on land purchase matters’; and Peter Bennett is ‘first class’. In 2011, the firm acted on the reorganisation of a large agricultural estate to accommodate a subsidiary business insolvency, a matter which involved the introduction of an LLP structure.

Arnold Thomson handles the range of agricultural matters, and has a new office in Market Harborough.

Langleys Solicitors LLP is ‘very responsive to requests and highly knowledgeable’, and Andrew Fearn, Francoise Vandale, and David Wood impress with their ‘detail and professionalism’. In one highlight, Fearn and Vandale advised York Potash on the development of a potash mine in North Yorkshire, a matter involving options, borehole licences and pipeline acquisition.

NFU panel member Wilkin Chapman LLP handles land purchases and sales, alongside complex matters such as diversification and agricultural tenancy arbitration.

Praised for its ‘fast response times and strength in depth’, Chattertons acts for the Lincoln Diocesan Trust & Board of Finance, and is instructed in connection with a major wind farm project. Rodney Blezard is ‘helpful and knowledgeable’; and Tim Salt and Jonathan Blythe are ‘efficient in the sale and purchase of Church properties’.

Rothera Dowson’s Neil Etherington advises on the refinancing and revitalisation of agricultural businesses through restructuring.

Shakespeares is active in farm business reorganisation, and also handles agricultural tenancies. Peter Snodgrass heads the team.

Sharp Young & Pearce LLP has experience in agricultural property sales.

Charities

Browne Jacobson LLP’s practice head William Colacicchi takes the lead on charity mergers, governance matters, and constitutional reviews. The team advises national organisations such as Natural England as well as regional charities Wyggestons Hospital and Portland College. The firm also provides training for schools and academies.

Valued for its ‘quick, professional and friendly service’, Hewitsons LLP is a name in the market for charity mergers and restructurings. Chris Knight is ‘proficient’, and ‘explains complex matters in layman’s terms’.

Freeth Cartwright LLP is valued for its commercial approach in advising not-for-profit organisations, and its ‘knowledge level is akin to London firms’. Mark Keeley is recommended.

Nelsons Solicitors Limited’s practice is headed by James Coningsby. The group acts for over 70 charities, in organisation, governance, property, and restructuring matters. One highlight saw the firm advise the Latvian National Council on secured lending to a charity.

Robinsons is active in advising religious, welfare and housing charities.

Rothera Dowson advises the Southwell Diocesan Board of Finance, as well as local charities and charitable trusts. Jeremy Allen is the key contact.

At Geldards LLP, corporate specialist Debra Martin carries out charities work for clients such as The English-Speaking Union.

Harvey Ingram LLP has been handling a number of instructions arising out of recent changes to the Charities Act 2006.

Family

DFA Law’s practice is led by trained mediator Alan Kiddle, who handles significant private divorce work. For public and childcare work, Prester Coleman is the key figure.

At Freeth Cartwright LLP, Judith Speed conducts ancillary relief applications for professionals and commercial clients. The team is collaboratively trained.

Boutique firm John Hooper & Co has a long track record in handling complex family matters, and undertakes an increasing amount of international work.

At Rupert Bear Murray Davies, Murray Davies brings 25 years of experience to high-stakes matrimonial work. He is assisted by Sarah Heathcote and Isobel England.

Brigid Turner & Co is an ‘outstanding’ firm for high-value matrimonial work, and ‘very reasonable value for money given the level of service’. Brigid Turner is ‘a dependable helm through choppy waters’.

Flint Bishop LLP’s practice focuses on high-net-worth individuals, and is led by the ‘diligent, astute and fair’ Fiona Lazenby.

Andrew Breakwell’s team at Harvey Ingram LLP has experience in nuptial agreements, and also handles matrimonial issues arising out of complex estates.

Nelsons Solicitors Limited’s Caroline Elliott is ‘very understanding and supportive’. Her team is recommended for international children law cases, and the arrival of Nussrat Bashir adds strength in the area of adoption and special guardianship.

Rothera Dowson is ‘strong in care cases and other public law family matters, and in matrimonial finance’. Ann-Marie Bowman has a childcare specialism.

The ‘excellent’ team at Roythornes LLP is led from Spalding by Nick Ingrey, and includes assistant John Boon, who is ‘approachable and pragmatic’. In one highlight, the team secured a final award of £1.2m for a wife after a four-day trial at the High Court.

Smith Partnership provides ‘clear and supportive’ advice to clients such as the regional Police Federation. Muctar Johal specialises in public law Children Act proceedings, and is ‘a great facilitator’.

The key figure at Spearing Waite LLP is now Swati Somaiya, following the departure of Jonathan Foster. The firm is pursuing the collaborative route in a complex divorce involving assets worth £3m.

Lisa Boileau’s five-partner team at Wilkin Chapman LLP handles the full range of high-value matrimonial finance matters, including mediation in respect of financial and children matters.

The ‘friendly’ department at Actons is led by Michael Spencer, who is capable of handling complex matters such as prenuptial agreements with no plans to cohabit, and civil partnership dissolution.

Chattertons’ family team is headed by Eleanor Thornton, who manages high-value divorce matters for businesses and farming clients.

Since arriving at Howes Percival LLP in 2010, the well-respected Jane Cowley - (‘passionate about delivering first-class advice’) has built a ‘professional yet approachable’ department. The firm handles divorces in excess of £15m, sometimes with an offshore element.

Langleys Solicitors LLP’s matrimonial offering delivers ‘value for money’. John Conlon is recommended for childcare matters.

In 2011, Chesterfield-based Prince Family Law handled cohabitation agreements, civil partnerships and prenuptial agreements, in addition to staple ancillary relief work. Jackie Lawson is collaboratively trained.

QualitySolicitors Wilson Browne is active across the region in family matters.

At Robinsons, Fiona Apthorpe is the key contact.

At Tees Solicitors, associate Maria Gallucci ‘provides sound advice in language the client can understand’.

Tollers LLP’s Alan Peck leads a team which has seen a significant increase in instructions.

Woodford Robinson has a well-regarded legal aid family practice.

Personal tax, trusts and probate

William Colacicchi heads the seven-fee-earner team at Browne Jacobson LLP, which is experienced in handling technically complex matters. In 2011, a team led by Stephen Howe advised in connection with the use of trusts and EFRBs for remuneration planning. In another highlight, the firm acted for executors in the administration of a £100m estate.

Freeth Cartwright LLP is noted for its ‘swift responses’, and team leader Nigel Cullen is ‘highly experienced’. The firm recently acted in relation to several multimillion-pound contested estates. Cullen was also appointed as a replacement trustee in respect of the administration of a £15m trust.

Harvey Ingram LLP’s team is a ‘preferred choice’ for the administration of high-value trusts. The firm acts for settled estates in Leicestershire, and advises high-net-worth individuals on complex inheritance tax planning. Mark Dunkley and Stephen Woolfe have ‘excellent technical ability’.

The probate offering at Hewitsons LLP ‘cannot be faulted in any respect’, and Clare Colacicchi is ‘extremely efficient’. In 2011, Catherine Ball handled a number of estates with values over £8m. The firm also secured 100% business property relief from HMRC for a client business.

Bolstered in 2011 by the arrival of the ‘approachable’ Ella Millett, Nelsons Solicitors Limited’s practice is split between Nottingham and Derby. The firm provides an online wills service for Cancer Research UK.

Geldards LLP’s team undertakes high-level probate and general estate work. Erica Thomson has been promoted to partner, adding to Grace Steele’s ‘outstanding’ tax knowledge.

Roythornes LLP brings its core agricultural specialism to bear on high-value tax matters for wealthy landowners and businesses. In 2011, Jarred Wright’s team advised in relation to a significant £20m estate, involving issues of renewable energy and combinable crops. Graham Smith’s expertise includes Agricultural Holdings Act matters.

Shakespeares’ team is led by John Pears, who specialises in sophisticated tax planning. In 2011 he advised on a multimillion-pound trust, in respect of inheritance tax liability on a ten-yearly anniversary charge. Clients include Wilkinson Hardware Stores and the Jones Charity Trust.

Trevor George’s team at Shoosmiths deals with all aspects of private client work for high-net-worth individuals.

At Actons, the highly regarded Mandy Kelly advises on high-value estates and agricultural relief.

James Bolton now heads the department at Chattertons, after Elizabeth Nicholson’s retirement. Caroline Mockford is also recommended.

At Langleys Solicitors LLP, David Wood ‘will always go the extra mile’; Andrew Fearn is ‘knowledgeable’; and Debbie Harrison is ‘reliable and enthusiastic’.

QualitySolicitors Wilson Browne’s seven-partner probate team includes a number of lawyers active on the Court of Protection’s panel.

Flint Bishop LLP provides a will-writing service for clients such as Oxfam.

Rothera Dowson’s lawyers ‘explain things in layman’s terms’. Jeremy Allen’s department regularly acts for estates worth more than £1m. In 2011, the three-partner team successfully defended an action brought by Nottingham City Council against an elderly client to secure a charge on a property to pay nursing home fees.

Tollers LLP’s two-partner team is headed by Barry Rogers, and has wills, tax, and estate planning capabilities.

Wilkin Chapman LLP handles complex tax planning and probate work, specialising in agricultural estates. Lisa-Jane Howes heads the five-partner team.

Howes Percival LLP saw the arrival of Elizabeth Young from Brethertons LLP, and provides a full tax and probate service.

Derbyshire-based Shacklocks is active in wills and IHT planning.

At Smith Partnership, probate litigation specialist Simon Richardson is noted for his ‘overall knowledge’.

Lindsey Atterbury’s team at Spearing Waite LLP has been increasingly active in relation to foreign probates. In 2011, the team handled 53 estates with a combined value over £45m.

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